I checked in with forward Mathieu Darche on Tuesday to ask him about his contract situation and his chances of signing with Columbus.

He said he turned down the same offer from Tampa Bay that Zenon Konopka took to leave Syracuse - two years, two way the first year, one way the second.

"I don't think my odds are very good when you have 17 forwards under contract,'' Darche said of the Lightning. "I want to be in the NHL. If I take that, more than likely I'll be in the AHL next year.''

Darche played 73 games with the Lightning last year, producing seven goals and 15 assists.

If Darche does not get a one-way deal, he said he'll decide among his two-way options. That's where Columbus enters the picture. He said he'd definitely consider an offer from the Blue Jackets, if it comes to that.

"Every year, I've been to places where they were, yeah, yeah, you'll have a chance (at the NHL). But I knew I wouldn't have a chance,'' Darche said. "Obviously, once I get to that (two-way scenario), I'll have to talk to teams and see what its plans are.''

Darche said he made $160,000 on the minor-league portion of his contract last season. If he signs a two-way deal this year, he probably would not make more than $100,000 in the AHL. That's the salary threshold for players who have skated in a certain number of NHL games to be recalled from the AHL without first needing to clear waivers. A team wouldn't likely pay him more than that because it would risk losing him on a recall.

But if Darche signed an AHL-only deal, that rule would not apply to him. His salary could be whatever he negotiated. Crunch owner Howard Dolgon has talked with Darche about that option.

Darche is also good friends and a former teammate of center Craig MacDonald, whom Columbus signed on Monday. I asked Darche for a scouting report.

"He's an awesome guy. He's got a good chance to stay in Columbus,'' Darche said. "He's a top penalty killer. If he ever ends up in Syracuse, you'll be more than happy with him. In the AHL, he's definitely a point a game guy. He's captain material. He's a real leader. Ross will love him. He'll give you everything every night.''

- The county is renovating the Crunch's locker room. Dolgon said a new scoreboard and some new seats may come during the 2008-09 season, but both should be in place by September 2009, at the latest.